The State Rooms - Buckingham Palace

Discover the city as you pedal along on one of our comfortable bikes with our friendly guide who will tell you about the historic details, the fascinating experiences of everyday life in the city and its iconic landmarks and sights on this easy-going route. Go on a relaxing cycle tour of Barcelona and visit unique cultural sights such as the Museu d’Art Contemporani, in the Raval neighbourhood, which has its own Rambla with its own unique inhabitant, Botero’s ‘Cat’. The guide will tell you some curious anecdotes about the neighbourhood and will then take you to the plaça Reial, the plaça Sant Jaume, the charming plaça de San Felipe Neri, the majestic Cathedral, the Roman walls and the plaça del Rei, among many other landmark sights. Next, you’ll head down to the seafront and beaches where you’ll be able to stop, time permitting. You’ll visit the old harbour, the Port Vell, the Barceloneta district, the Olympic Marina and, on the way back, you’ll cycle through the Parc de la Ciutadella and stop at the Sagrada Família. And during the hot summer nights you’ll also be able to go on one of our night-time tours! Exploring the city by bike is a wonderful way to experience Barcelona day or night.               

ACTIVATING THE NEW YORK PASS The smart card records when and where you first use your Pass, as well as how long the Pass will remain valid. This means your Pass is activated the moment that you first use it at an attraction or service. Your New York Pass is then valid for the number of days that you've purchased - be it 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. It is important to note that a ‘day’ is based on a calendar day, not a 24 hour period. VALIDITY OF THE NEW YORK PASS The New York Pass is valid for use on consecutive days only. You can visit each attraction just once with the New York Pass. At the end of your validity period, the pass will expire and will no longer allow access to attractions. If, for example, you used a three day pass for the first time on Monday, your pass will cease working at the end of Wednesday, regardless of how often you have used it in between. SKIPPING THE LINES As well as free entry, the New York Pass allows you to skip long lines at some of the busiest tourist attractions. Simply look for the New York Pass signs and show the attendant your New York Pass - they will swipe your card through the New York Pass machine and you will be allowed entrance - more >> BOOKING TOURS IN ADVANCE The most popular tours often sell out in advance, but once you purchased your New York Pass online, you can secure your place with your online confirmation number. There are 17 Tours you can book in advance with New York Pass FREE GUIDEBOOK Every Adult Pass comes with a 200 page pocket guidebook, which details all attractions and special offers available for Pass holders. If you choose the delivery option it will be delivered with your Passes. Customers collecting their Passes will also receive their free guidebooks at the collection point. It’s possible to download a guidebook pdf here >> THE NEW YORK PASS APP This free app is the perfect travel guide for your trip to New York City. With complete information and photographs of over 80 NYC attractions, as well as practical tips to make the best of your visit, this app will leave you more time to experience all that New York City has to offer. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Zero risk buying ahead - New York Passes can be purchased up to 12 months before your trip. In case your travel plans change, New York Pass insurance gives you peace of mind offering full refund on non-used Passes. No questions asked.  

The Sainte-Chapelle Be dazzled by the 1,113 stained glass windows at this jewel of the Rayonnant Gothic period. The first of the Holy Chapels to be decorated with exceptional stained-glass windows. Known for having housed Christ’s Crown of Thorns, it has spectacular stained-glass windows. Veritable walls of light that make the Sainte-Chapelle the jewel of French Gothic.   The Conciergerie Discover this Medieval royal palace that became a revolutionary tribunal and Marie-Antoinette’s prison. Discover on the Île de la Cité, the exceptional Gothic rooms of the first royal palace of Paris and the reproduction of the prison cells of the revolutionary tribunal. At the end of the 17th century, numerous people were imprisoned in the prison of the Conciergerie, including Marie-Antoinette. The Conciergerie is also listed as a historical building by the Unesco. Pantheon On Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, visit the Panthéon, masterpiece of the architect Soufflot. Come and learn all about the Pantheon, this incredible building by Soufflot who's ambition was to outdo the churches of St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. Observe the style of this building, inspired by the Pantheon commissioned by Agrippa in Rome.    From 1874 onwards, the sanctuary was decorated with paintings on canvas illustrating the life of Saint Geneviève and the epic story of the beginnings of both Christianity and the monarchy in France.    Make the most of the Pantheon with a visit into the Crypt, get to see the tombs of the eminent personalities who shaped France's national identity. A permanent exhibition gives details about the lives and works of those who are buried here, from Voltaire and Rousseau to Alexandre Dumas.    You'll also have the chance to see the Foucault’s pendulum*, first installed in 1851 and removed then reinstalled in 1995, this device demonstrated the Earth's rotation.

Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people. What there is to see: The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and the famous triple portrait of Charles I by Sir Anthony van Dyck.  In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed.  The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe. From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle. St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world. The Drawings Gallery shows changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The special display below is shown alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library. Current/Forthcoming exhibitions: The Queen: Portraits of a Monarch Friday, 23 November 2012 to Sunday, 09 June 2013 Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most depicted women in the world. She has sat to numerous artists, from Cecil Beaton and Pietro Annigoni to Lucian Freud. Her portrait likeness, so widely circulated, has also inspired artists such as Andy Warhol, whose screenprint portraits of Her Majesty have been recently acquired for the Royal Collection and are displayed for the first time at Windsor Castle. Portraits of The Queen are made for a number of official purposes, ranging from photographs distributed at the time of a State Visit, to those that mark a particular anniversary. Portraits bearing a clear and recognisable image of the sovereign are required for use on coins, banknotes and stamps. Many of the works on display were created with one of these purposes in mind. This exhibition presents a selection of official, commissioned and formal portraits of The Queen, gathered here from the different Royal residences.    

The Original London Sightseeing Tour A spectacular day out for all the family! THE TOURS The Original Tour (Yellow Route) Hop-on and off our tours at your leisure exploring London's sights in safety and comfort. Get the most out of your visit with a fun & informative English guided commentary provided by our professional tour hosts. The route takes in London's most famous sights; including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, The London Dungeon, Tower Bridge and The Tower of London. Commentary - English Live Guided Bus Times - The Original Tour (Yellow Route) departs every 20 minutes from Whitcomb Street between 08:30 to 18:00. Tour Duration: 2 hours 15 mins Last full Yellow tour: 16:30 Mon-Thurs, Fri-Sun 17:00 Departure Points - We recommend you join this tour from our Visitor Centre or Piccadilly Circus. The City Sightseeing Tour (Red Route) Our City Sightseeing route takes in all of London's landmark attractions and offers entertaining, multi-lingual commentaries. Children can also enjoy our superb Kids' Channel on the Red Route. The route takes in the capital's most famous sights including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Madame Tussauds, The London Dungeon, Tower Bridge and The Tower of London. Commentary - Digitally Recorded Multi-Lingual in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Japanese, Portuguese & Kids' Channel. Bus Times: First red tour departs at 0830 from Grosvenor Gardens with departures every 10-15 minutes there­after. Mon–Thurs last tour 16:50 and Fri-Sun last tour from 17:20 Tour Duration: 2 hours 15 mins Departure Points - We recommend you join this tour from Victoria, Visitor Centre or Piccadilly Circus. The Museum Tour (Blue Route) In addition to our two popular main tour routes, customers of The Original Tour can enjoy the delights of London's top museum districts relayed to them through the superb digital commentary. Enjoy the many attractions, shops and museums along the Blue route which runs from the British Museum down to Kensington and Knightsbridge for Kensington Palace, Harrods, the V&A, Natural History and Science Museums, whilst listening to an informative and entertaining commentary. Commentary - Digitally Recorded Multi-Lingual in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Japanese, Portuguese & Kids' Channel. Bus Times - First Blue Tour from Woburn Place 08:30, from Kensington Palace Gardens 08:15 daily, every 15-20 minutes thereafter daily. Last Full Blue Tour 17:15 from Kensington Palace Gardens to Woburn Place daily. Last Full Blue Tour 17:30 from Woburn Place to Kensington Palace Gardens daily. Tour Duration: 2 hours 15 mins Departure Points - We recommend you join this tour from Piccadilly Circus. Purple Route - Capital Connector (T6) The Purple Route is useful if you are staying in a hotel located in Bayswater, Notting Hill, Holland Park or Lancaster Gate or wish to go shopping at Westfield Shepherds Bush. Operating in both eastbound and westbound directions, the Purple Route operates more frequently in an eastbound direction, enabling you to join our Yellow sightseeing route at Marble Arch. Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes. EXPLORE LONDON FREE WALKING TOURS Get up close to London's incredible history. Included FREE with every bus tour ticket! Three fabulous walks put you at the heart of the world's most exciting city: Changing the Guard Walk: See Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the regiments that guard them in this exciting walk as you march alongside the guards at Buckingham Palace.* Departs daily 10:00am from The Original London Visitor Centre Rock ‘n’ Roll Walk: Take a 90 minute walk through the heart of London’s rocking heritage: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols – it’s only rock ‘n’ Roll, but I like it! Departs daily 13:00 from The Original London Visitor Centre Jack the Ripper Walk: Walk in the footsteps of the world's most infamous serial killer as we reveal his murderous tale from the dark street of Whitechapel in 1888. Departs daily 16:00 from The Original Tour bus stop 11 at the Tower of London on Tower Hill * On non-guard change days (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) the walking tour will take you to see the Changing of the Horse Guard (at horse guards parade) and will then visit Buckingham Palace. The guard change does not take place if it is raining. ** All tours take approximately 90 minutes. Please note that the Jack the Ripper walk will finish at Aldgate East tube station and not at one of our bus stops. *** Walking tours are included FREE with an Original Tour ticket but can be purchased separately at £9 GBP each. MAIN DEPARTURE POINTS: The Original London Visitor Centre The newly opened London Visitor Centre is your one-stop-shop to the Capital and beyond. Visit us at our Trafalgar Square address for expert help from our excellent travel advisers. You can also purchase tickets for a range of exciting activities. Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 08:30 to 18:00 Sunday & Bank Holidays 09:00 to 17:30 Address: 17-19 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square Nearest Tube: Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus Start Point 1 - PICCADILLY CIRCUS Directions: Yellow Route From Whitcomb Street: The stop is by the McDonald's between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Red Route From Haymarket: The stop is outside the Theatre Royal. Green & Blue Routes From Rupert Street: The stop is outside 'Yo Sushi' restaurant on Rupert Street No.19. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 18:00 Red Route: First Bus 09:15, Last Full Tour 16:20 Green Route: First Bus 09:52, Last Full Tour 14:10 Blue Route: First Bus 08:45, Last Full Tour 17:15 Start Point 2 - TRAFALGAR SQUARE Directions: Yellow & Red Routes From Trafalgar Square (North Side): The stop is located opposite The Original London Visitor Centre at Stop 'Z', by the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. Green Route From Northumberland Avenue: The stop is opposite 'Garfunkel's' restaurant at Stop 'W'. Timetable - Frequency approx. 15 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:35, Last Full Tour 15:50 Red Route: First Bus 09:20, Last Full Tour 15:04 Green Route: First Bus 09:18, Last Full Tour 14:35 Start Point 3 - RUSSELL SQUARE & WOBURN PLACE Directions: Blue Routes From Woburn Place: The stop is located just off Russell Square on Woburn Place outside the Royal National Hotel. Timetable - Frequency approx. 15 mins Blue Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 16:30 Start Point 4 - VICTORIA & GROSVENOR GARDENS Directions: Yellow Route From Buckingham Palace Road: The stop is located outside the Thistle Victoria Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road. Red Route From Grosvenor Gardens: The stop is located beside Grosvenor Gardens outside STA Travel. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 09:05, Last Full Tour 16:15 Red Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 17:20 Start Point 5 - MARBLE ARCH Directions: Yellow & Red Routes From Speakers' Corner: The stop is located at Speakers' Corner at Marble Arch on Park Lane. Take subway exit number '3', turn right at street level and go over pedestrian crossing. Our bus stop is the last on the right hand side   Kensington Palace unveils a palace of secret stories and public lives following a £12m major project to create a palace for everyone. Visitors to Kensington Palace arrive through newly landscaped gardens and entrance hall to journey through the magnificent Kings and Queen’s State Apartments as a courtier. Filled with stories of two royal courts; the House of Stuart and the House of Hanover 1698 -1714, your success will depend on who you know, how you behave and how you dress. The rewards are great, but there are pitfalls along the way! Victoria Revealed, an exciting new permanent exhibition set within the rooms Victoria grew up in as a child, explores her life and reign through her own words. Imagine how she felt at just 17 years old on her first day as Queen at Kensington Palace, discover her romantic side through letters and gifts exchanged with Prince Albert and take a peep at moments of family life with her children.  

A spectacular day out for all the family! Routes and Times With your Original Tour ticket, you have access to 6 bus tour routes around London. Four of these routes (Yellow, Blue and Orange) are sightseeing tour routes and buses run at a 15-20 minute frequency. The Green Route is The Loop Line around central London. The Orange and Purple Routes operate as a shuttle service and connect you with our sightseeing tours from the train stations and popular hotel districts of the capital. The information below is designed to help you plan your day out in London. Do also check our timetable for specific stop locations and route times. All times are subject to change and if you have any questions on the day, please do ask our friendly and knowledgeable on-street staff who are on hand to help you plan your perfect day in London! Yellow Route The Yellow Route presents the key sights and top attractions of London including the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye and Marble Arch. Crossing the river four times, you are guaranteed some spectacular views of London’s stunning scenery along the Thames. The Yellow Route T2 offers multilingual commentary in 11 different languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic & Brazilian) and live guides on Yellow Route T1. The main departure point for this tour route is located at Coventry Street, Piccadilly Circus but you can board the bus at any stop along the route. Blue Route - The Royal Borough Route The southern section of the Blue Route remains unchanged, covering the popular shopping district of Kensington with the world famous Harrods and Harvey Nicholls department stores as well as the museums in Kensington including Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the newly relocated Design Museum (opening November  24th, 2016). The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the smallest borough in London but also one of the most densely populated. Nicknamed ‘Albertopolis’ after the husband of Queen Victoria, the area contains some of the most expensive residential properties in London along with a large number of museums (many with free entry) & cultural institutions. We invite you to hop-off The Original Tour anywhere along the route or stay on-board to view the impressive architecture of this beautiful area. Orange Route: The British Museum Tour The British Museum is the most popular attraction in London with over 6 million visitors per year. Dedicated to human history, art & culture, the museum houses over 8 million exhibits (not all of them on show at one time!) from all over the world. The new Orange Route also provides easy access from Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston train stations. Clients arriving at these major train stations can now easily get into central London to switch onto the Yellow sightseeing tours which cover all the major sights and attractions of central London. Green Route The Green Route is a useful route to hop-on if you need to cross town quickly to get from one place to another. The Green Route operates at a frequency of every 20 minutes (20-30 minutes in winter) with the first bus departing Charing Cross Road (Leicester Square) at 9.15am and the last bus at 2.35pm.       Purple Route       Purple Route - Capital Connector (T6)       The Purple Route is useful if you are staying in a hotel located in Bayswater, Notting Hill, Holland Park or Lancaster Gate or wish to go shopping at Westfield Shepherds Bush.      Operating in both eastbound and westbound directions, the Purple Route operates more frequently in an eastbound direction, enabling you to join our Yellow sightseeing route at Marble Arch.      Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes. EXPLORE LONDON FREE WALKING TOURS Get up close to London's incredible history. Included FREE with every bus tour ticket! Three fabulous walks put you at the heart of the world's most exciting city: Changing the Guard Walk: See Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the regiments that guard them in this exciting walk as you march alongside the guards at Buckingham Palace.* Departs daily 10:00am from The Original London Visitor Centre Rock ‘n’ Roll Walk: Take a 90 minute walk through the heart of London’s rocking heritage: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols – it’s only rock ‘n’ Roll, but I like it! Departs daily 13:00 from The Original London Visitor Centre Jack the Ripper Walk: Walk in the footsteps of the world's most infamous serial killer as we reveal his murderous tale from the dark street of Whitechapel in 1888. Departs daily 16:00 from The Original Tour bus stop 11 at the Tower of London on Tower Hill * On non-guard change days (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) the walking tour will take you to see the Changing of the Horse Guard (at horse guards parade) and will then visit Buckingham Palace. The guard change does not take place if it is raining. ** All tours take approximately 90 minutes. Please note that the Jack the Ripper walk will finish at Aldgate East tube station and not at one of our bus stops. *** Walking tours are included FREE with an Original Tour ticket but can be purchased separately at $12 GBP each. MAIN DEPARTURE POINTS: The Original London Visitor Centre The newly opened London Visitor Centre is your one-stop-shop to the Capital and beyond. Visit us at our Trafalgar Square address for expert help from our excellent travel advisers. You can also purchase tickets for a range of exciting activities. Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 08:30 to 18:00 Sunday & Bank Holidays 09:00 to 17:30 Address: 17-19 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square Nearest Tube: Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus Start Point 1 - PICCADILLY CIRCUS Directions: Yellow Route From Whitcomb Street: The stop is by the McDonald's between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. Green & Blue Routes From Rupert Street: The stop is outside 'Yo Sushi' restaurant on Rupert Street No.19. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:30, Last Full Tour 18:00 Green Route: First Bus 09:52, Last Full Tour 14:10 Blue Route: First Bus 08:45, Last Full Tour 17:15 Start Point 2 - TRAFALGAR SQUARE Directions: Green Route From Northumberland Avenue: The stop is opposite 'Garfunkel's' restaurant at Stop 'W'. Timetable - Frequency approx. 15 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 08:35, Last Full Tour 15:50 Green Route: First Bus 09:18, Last Full Tour 14:35 Start Point 3 - VICTORIA & GROSVENOR GARDENS Directions: Yellow Route From Buckingham Palace Road: The stop is located outside the Thistle Victoria Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road. Timetable - Frequency approx. 10 mins Yellow Route: First Bus 09:05, Last Full Tour 16:15 Start Point 4 - MARBLE ARCH Directions: Yellow Routes From Speakers' Corner: The stop is located at Speakers' Corner at Marble Arch on Park Lane. Take subway exit number '3', turn right at street level and go over pedestrian crossing. Our bus stop is the last on the right hand side